Members attending: John Justino, Andy Leyhane, Murray Forth, Kevin Leyhane, Jim Leyhane, and Roberto Martinez

A small group from the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club met for our last summer casual event at Druther’s Brewing Company in downtown Albany. Everyone dined on the highly recommended chicken and waffles, while beating the summer heat with refreshing beverages.

The business reviewed included the ongoing collection of school supplies for the Circles of Mercy Back to School Program. Requested supplies are posted on our club website and may be donated at any future summer event up until August 21, 2022.

We continue to sell tickets for two upcoming raffles, one to benefit the Gift of Life with a grand prize of $500, and the second to benefit our club with the prize being over $300 worth of fine alcohol. Tickets are available through Jim Leyhane and Dean Calamaris and may be purchased at upcoming summer events.

Our next summer casual event, will be taking place this Thursday August 4, 20222 at Joe Bruno Stadium where will will be enjoying dinner and a baseball game. Looking forward to seeing everyone this Thursday.

We will be having our next summer casual event this Thursday July 28, 2022 at 6:00 pm at Druthers Brewing Company located at 1053 Broadway, Albany NY 12204. It will be Dutch treat with everyone ordering off the menu. If you plan on attending and did not notify us during last Thursday’s meeting, please email Kevin at KRL1873@aol.com.

Once again we are choosing to support Circles of Mercy’s Back to School Program. With the economy being what it is today, the need to support the children of our community is greater than ever. Below you will find a list of school supplies that we will be collecting throughout the summer at our summer casual events. If you are unable to attend an event, and would like to arrange a separate pick-up or drop-off, contact Kevin Leyhane at KRL1873@aol.com. Donated supplies will be collected until August 21, 2022. The requested supplies are as follows:

• Pencils (regular lead #2, colored, and mechanical)
• Pencil sharpener
• Erasers fo pencils
• Pens (black or blue)
• Markers (dry erase, sharpies, and assorted colored markers)
• Pocket Folders (assorted colors)
• Glue Sticks
• Scissors
• Protractor and compass
• 3 Ring binders (1.5 “, 2″, and 3”)
• Loose leaf paper (college ruled)
• Graph Paper
• Spiral subject notebooks (1, 3, and 5 subject in college ruled)
• Subject dividers
• Plastic zipper pencil cases or pencil boxes
• Index cards 3″x5″
• Highlighters (yellow)
• Rulers (containing both inches and centimeters)
• Tissues
• Hand Sanitizer (small bottles)
• Post-it notes
• Backpacks (no rollers or wheels)
• Hole reinforcement labels
• Combination locks (for gym lockers)
• Flash Drives
• Ear buds (for computers)
• Scientific calculators (TI-84 + graphing)

Due to circumstances beyond our control, mainly poor weather combined with Covid exposures, has caused us to reschedule this week’s Steak and Swim at the Leyhane’s  to  August 25th.  At this time, we feel that the most responsible course of action, while maintaining our fellowship in Rotary would be to switch this week’s meeting to a remote one using Zoom.  As with previous Zoom meetings we will begin at 7:00.  So mix up your favorite cocktail or pour your favorite pint and we look forward to seeing everyone this Thursday via Zoom.

With next week’s summer casual event being open, we have decided to make it a social event at Druthers Brewing Company in Albany located at 1053 Broadway.  The plan is to meet at Druthers around 6 and order off their menu.  Further details will be discussed on Thursday.

Our first summer casual, hosted by Peter and Debbie Brown was a success. Members and guests dined poolside all while enjoying the great fellowship of Rotary.

Items of Business:

The Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club will continue its support of the Circles of Mercy with donations of school supplies for the upcoming school year. A list of requested supplies will be posted on the website in the near future and may be donated at any of our up coming summer casual events.

The Gift of Life Program is hosting a raffle as part of their upcoming golf tournament. The Grand Prize is $500, 2nd Prize is $200, 3rd Prize is $100, 4th Prize is $50, and 5th Prize is $25. Tickets are $10 each, 3 for $20, and 7 for $40. The Drawing will be held on Monday September 12, 2022 at 4:15. You need not be present to win, and winners WILL NOT be allowed to return the winnings to Gift of Life. Tickets are available from Dean and Doris Calamaris or Jim Leyhane.

Barrow of Booze raffle. We will be raffling off roughly $300 worth of quality liquor, wine, mixers, and ciders. Tickets are $5 each and 5 for $20. The earnings from this will go to the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club’s general fund to be used in future donations. The drawing will be held at our regularly scheduled Rotary meeting on September 15, 2022.

Debbie Rodriguez discussed an upcoming Gala to benefit the Blue Star Mothers. More information will follow in a future post.

The date of July 28, 2022 is still available for anyone wishing to host a summer casual dinner. In the event we do not have a host we are looking into the possibility of returning to Moscatiello’s Restaurant for one night, or meeting out for a drink at a local brewery.

Next week’s summer casual event will be hosted by Jim Leyhane and Roberto Martinez. Once again we are asking for a fee of $15 and an additional $5 for each guest, with a maximum of $20 per family. Next Thursday’s menu will feature the following: Filet Steaks, baked potatoes, vegetables, garlic bread and dessert. We ask guests to provide an appetizer. If you have not already signed up to attend please call 518-428-1732 or email Leyhane@aol.com to notify Jim that you plan on attending.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again on the 21st.

A raffle is being held to benefit the Gift of Life Program.

The Grand Prize is $500, 2nd Prize is $200, 3rd Prize is $100, 4th Prize is $50 and 5th Prize is $25.

Tickets are $10 each, 3 for $20 or 7 for $40.

Tickets are available from Dean and Doris Calamaris or Jim Leyhane.

Drawing will be held on Monday Sept 12, 2022 at 4:15 pm via Facebook Live “Gift of Life Rotary District 7190” You need not be present to win.

Please note: Raffle winners are NOT ALLOWED to return their winnings to Gift of Life.

As we prepare for our first summer casual, graciously hosted by Peter and Debbie Brown, a few administrative notes.  We are asking all Rotary members attending for a fee of $15 for themselves and $5 for any additional adult guests, with a maximum fee of $20. As always, kids eat for free. The Browns have asked for those attending to please bring an appetizer to share.

Hopefully the weather holds, so that those of you that so desire may take a splash in the pool. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Thursday at 6:00pm!

As we change seasons, most of us sort through our clothing closets and drawers to see what we can do without. So, if you find unwanted clothes you’d like to get rid of, may we suggest one of the Gift of Life dropoff boxes?

The one closest to our area of service is behind the Mobil station just off Exit 10 of I-90 — near the Top Form facility.

GOL, the childhood medical relief organization, has many locations throughout District 7190 for its clothing donation bins. There are several in the immediate Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club area, but for those of you who live or work elsewhere — or want to encourage friends, relatives, and co-workers to drop off their unwanted items to help GOL, there are plenty of other options as well.

These bins are placed in conjunction with American Clothing Recycling Company, a Glens Falls business, with profits going to Gift of Life.

Here are the most convenient clothing bin locations (the list may change from time to time):

In the immediate SRC area:

• As noted above, behind the Mobil station on Miller Road, Schodack
• Tractor Supply Store, Schodack Plaza, 1649 Columbia Turnpike, Castleton

Elsewhere in the region:

• Hewitt’s, Clifton Park
• Powers Irish Pub, Clifton Park
• Kelley Farm & Garden, Cobleskill
• Rustic Gourmet Restaurant, 785 Delaware Ave, Delmar
• SE Kitchens & Baths, Gansevoort
• Hewitts, 605 Feura bush Road, Glenmont
• Faddegon’s Nursery, Latham
• Grassland Equipment & Irrigation Corp., Latham
• Mechanicville Area Community Services Center, Mechanicville
• Watervliet Elementary School, Watervliet
• State Line Flea Market, Whitehall